Bearcat Sports Weekly #2

Football

Last Week’s Result:
Gustavus Adolphus Passes Bearcats in Fourth Quarter, 34-25
Gustavus Adophus College scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to rally from a 17-13 deficit and defeat visiting Willamette University, 34-25, on Saturday, Sept. 8 at Hollingsworth Field. The win allowed the Gusties to open the season at 1-0, while Willamette fell to 0-2.

Willamette led 7-6 at halftime and held a four-point lead as the final period began,but Gustavus Adolphus moved in front on a 32-yard pass from quarterback Jordon Stolp to wide receiver Chad Arlt on the second play of the fourth quarter. Stolp kicked the extra point to give the Gusties a 20-17 lead.

Gustavus Adolphus increased the lead to 27-17 on a 17-yard pass from Stolp to John Retka with 2:19 remaining in the game. Willamette gave the ball back to the Gusties with a fumble on the next play from scrimmage. Peter Keegan recovered the ball for Gustavus and Mitch Anderson rushed 12 yards for GAC’s final touchdown on the ensuing play. Stolp converted the extra point with 1:59 left for a 34-17 lead.

The Bearcats drove 68 yards in nine plays to score the game’s final touchdown on a 10-yard run by Grant Leslie (Jr., QB, Bainbridge Island, WA/Bainbridge HS). WU picked up two 3rd-and-17 situations during the drive -- once on a 24-yard pass from Leslie to Merben Woo (Jr., FL, Salinas, CA/Hartnell JC) and once on a pass interference penalty against GAC. The pass interference set up Leslie’s touchdown on the next play with 10 seconds left. Woo reached the end zone on a double reverse for a two-point conversion to complete the scoring.

Up Next for the Bearcats:
Bearcats to Play California Lutheran in Home Opener
The Bearcats will play their home opener on Saturday, Sept. 15 against California Lutheran University. Game time at McCulloch Stadium is set for 1:30 p.m. (PDT). Last year, the Kingsmen rallied from a 16-6 halftime deficit to defeat the Bearcats, 26-16, in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

Bearcat Notes:
• The Bearcats amassed 181 rushing yards on 39 carries against Gustavus Adolphus. WU also gained 172 yards through the air for 353 yards of total offense.
• Grant Leslie (Jr., QB, Bainbridge Island, WA/Bainbridge HS) completed 14 of 27 passes for 161 yards and two scores against the Gusties. He also ran with the ball five times for 12 yards and one touchdown.
• James Yamashita (Jr., WR, Walnut Creek, CA/Diablo Valley College) caught six passes for 112 yards and one touchdown versus GAC.
• Merben Woo (Jr., FL, Salinas, CA/Hartnell JC) anchored the rushing attack with nine carries for 78 yards against Gustavus Adolphus, while C.J. Washington (Sr., RB, Spokane, WA/Shadle Park HS) ran seven times for 42 yards.
• Matt Bicocca (Sr., PK, San Andreas, CA/Calaveras HS) was perfect on two extra points and a field goal over the weekend. He has converted 15 of 19 field goals since the start of the 2005 season.
• Taylor Hermes (Keizer, OR/Southern Oregon University) registered 11 total tackles in the loss to the Gusties. He earned 1.5 tackles for losses. Ben Fennimore (Sr., FS, Salem, OR/McKay HS) provided eight tackles and broke up two passes.

Volleyball

Last Week’s Results:
Bearcats Lose to Lewis-Clark State in Championship Match at Whitworth Invitational
Willamette University defeated Whitworth University, 3-1, in the final match of round robin play, before losing to Lewis-Clark State College, 0-3, in the championship match, at the Whitworth Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 8. The Bearcats finished the tournament in second place with a 2-2 record.

Against Whitworth, the Bearcats earned a 28-30, 30-27, 30-27, 30-26 vicotory. Lewis-Clark State won the championship match, 30-21, 30-19, 30-19.

Willamette is now 2-6 on the season. Whitworth dropped to 4-3 after losing to the Bearcats, but defeated the University of Montana-Western, 3-1, in the third place match. Lewis-Clark State won the tournament at 4-0, while improving to 6-2 overall.

Earlier in the tournament, Willamette University split a pair of matches on the first day of the Whitworth Invitational on Friday, Sept. 7, as Lewis-Clark State College defeated the Bearcats, 3-0, before WU downed the University of Montana-Western, 3-1. Lewis-Clark won the first match 30-16, 30-14, 30-16, by hitting .304 on offense. The Bearcats outlasted Montana-Western, 24-30, 30-28, 30-26, 31-29, as Kelley Lindstrom (Jr., OH, Banks, OR/Banks HS) recorded 13 kills and Julie Stutzman (So., MB, Olympia, WA/Olympia HS) contributed 10 kills to go with a .350 hitting percentage.

Up Next for the Bearcats:
WU to Open Northwest Conference Slate at Linfield College The Bearcats will return to action on Wednesday, Sept. 12 at Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore. The match, which will be the Northwest Conference opener for both teams, is set for 7 p.m. (PDT). Willamette also plays on the road on Friday, Sept. 14, when the Bearcats will take on Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Wash. Match time is scheduled for 7 p.m. (PDT).

Bearcat Notes:
• Willamette’s victory against Whitworth ended a 15-match losing streak. The ‘Cats last win prior to Friday was a 3-0 rout of Cascade College, 30-18, 30-20, 30-12, on Oct. 3, 2006.
• Junior outside hitter Kelly Lindstrom (Banks, OR/Banks, HS) was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Whitworth Invitational, played Sept. 7-8 at Whitworth University. Cintia Alessi (Jr., OH) from Lewis-Clark State was selected MVP of the tournament. Joining Alessi and Lindstrom on the All-Tournament Team were Sarah Rusch (Jr., MB) and Cassie Moore (Sr., LIB) of Whitworth, Stephanie Couture (So., S) from the University of Montana-Western and Brittney Kubik (Sr., MB) from Lewis-Clark State.

Men’s Soccer

Last Week’s Results:
Bearcats Defeat both Whittier and Colorado College to Improve to 2-1-1 on the Season
Casey Dineen (So., MF, Portland, OR/Jesuit HS) scored two goals and Greg Beasley (Fr., F, Camas, WA/Camas HS) hit the net once, as Willamette University built a 3-0 first-half lead on its way to a 3-2 win over Whittier College, Sept. 7 in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Dineen opened the scoring at 15:52, after receiving a cross from the right side by Michael Rodrigues (Sr., MF, Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS). Beasley connected for the next goal at 30:57, as he took a rebound off the crossbar and sent it into the Whittier net. Dineen gave WU a 3-0 margin when he headed in a corner kick by Sam Hodder (Jr., F/MF, Albuquerque, NM/Sandia Prep).

The Bearcats achieved an 11-6 edge in shots during the first 45 minutes, but the Poets outshot Willamette 7-1 in the second half for a 13-12 advantage overall. Whittier gained a 7-4 edge in shots on goal. Willamette was credited with the game’s two corner kicks, as the ‘Cats achieved one corner in each half.

The action heated up again on Saturday, Sept. 8 when Beasley scored with 1:22 left in the second overtime period to send Willamette University to a 3-2 victory over Colorado College. Willamette improved to 2-1-1 on the season.

The Bearcats forced overtime when Luke Lagattuta scored at 82:14 to forge a 2-2 tie. The score remained tied until Beasley’s goal in the second sudden-death extra period. Rodrigues and Conor Costigan (Fr., MF, Hillsboro, OR/Glencoe HS) assisted on the winning goal. Rodrigues also scored at 23:45 to tie the game at 1-1 in the first half. Colorado College improved to 2-2 with a 9-1 win over Whittier on Sunday, Sept. 9. Whittier fell to 0-3 on the season.

Up Next for the Bearcats:
Willamette to Play at George Fox and Puget Sound
Willamette plays at George Fox University on Wednesday, Sept. 12 to open Northwest Conference play. Game time in Newberg, Ore., is scheduled for 4 p.m. (PDT). The Bearcats are slated to play at the University of Puget Sound on Sunday, Sept. 16. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. (PDT).

Bearcat Notes:
• WU goalie Scott Klein (Fr., Coeur D’alene, ID/Lake City HS) faced 34 shots (10 on goal) and recorded eight saves in the win over Colorado College. He improved to 2-1-1 on the season.
• The Bearcats took just 11 shots against Colorado College, but placed 10 of the shots on goal.

Women’s Soccer

Last Week’s Result:
Willamette Pulls Away from La Verne in Second Half, 4-0
Willamette University received goals from four different players, as the Bearcats defeated the University of La Verne, 4-0, at Sparks Field on Sunday, Sept. 9. Emily Gross (Jr., MF, Medford, OR/North Medford HS) scored the only goal of the first half at 21:25. WU’s goals in the second half were scored by Meghan Anderson (So., F, Eugene, OR/South Eugene HS), Lauren Miller (Jr., F, Portland, OR/Northwestern State, La.) and Beth Tatlock (So., MF, Denver, CO/St. Mary’s Academy). The Bearcats improved to 1-1 on the season, while the Leopards dropped to 0-3.

Gross opened the scoring with a shot from 7-yards to complete a well-executed attack. Samantha Post (Jr., D, Philomath, OR/Philomath HS) started the play with a pass from the right side to the left side near the penalty area. Haley Rosenthal (So., MF, Cheyenne, WY/Cheyenne East HS) took control, dribbled several yards toward the end line, then sent a pass toward the right post. Gross directed her first-time shot into the left corner of the goal.

Neither team scored during the remainder of the first half, but the Bearcats recorded two goals in just over three-and-a-half minutes about one-third of the way through the second half. Anderson’s goal was recorded at 56:27 on a tap-in from two yards out, after a shot by Miller was saved by La Verne goalie Caitlin Kams. Miller increased the lead to 3-0 with a goal on a six-yard header at 59:59. Gross set up the goal with a crossing pass following a short corner kick.

The game’s final goal was scored by Tatlock on a break-away at 87:47. Elena Crecelius (Fr., MF, Orofino, ID/Orofino HS) sent a through pass to Tatlock about 40 yards from goal, leacing Tatlock with only the goalie to beat. She placed her shot low and near the left post, as Kams rushed out near the right post. The Bearcats outshot the Leopards 15-3 during the game. Willamette held an 8-3 edge in shots on goal and also earned a 10-0 margin in corner kicks.

Up Next for the Bearcats:
WU Set to Face George Fox and Puget Sound in NWC Action
Willamette will play its next game on Thursday, Sept. 13 at George Fox University. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. (PDT) in Newberg, Ore. It will be the Northwest Conference opener for both teams. The Bearcats also play an NWC road game at
the University of Puget Sound on Sunday, Sept. 16 in Tacoma, Wash. Game time is set for 12 p.m. (PDT). Last year, UPS won the NWC title with 41 points (13-1-2 record), barely in front of Willamette, which took second place with 40 points (13-2-1 record). UPS and Willamette both received berths into the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Bearcat Notes:
• Lo Holahan (Jr., GK, Anacortes, WA/Anacortes HS) and Kelli Gano (Fr., GK, Portland, OR/Cleveland HS) shared the shutout against La Verne. Holahan recorded the win and made one save in the first half. Gano played the final 45 minutes and registered two saves.

Men’s & Women’s Cross Country

Last Week’s Result:
Bearcat Cross Country Teams are Ranked 14th in NCAA Division III
Willamette University has a history of success in men’s and women’s cross country and the Bearcats appear headed for continued success in 2007, as both of WU’s teams are ranked in the top 15 in the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Preseason Polls.

The Willamette women’s team, led by returning national champion Sarah Zerzan (Sr., San Carlos, CA/Notre Dame HS), is ranked 14th and is the highest ranked Northwest Conference team in the NCAA Division III Poll. Zerzan has been named First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America as part of the 2006-07 College Division Women’s Track and Field and Cross Country Team. As a runner, Zerzan won the NCAA Division III women’s cross country individual national championship this past fall and took second place in the women’s 5,000-meter run at the NCAA Track and Field National Championships this spring. At the end of the cross country season,

WU’s men’s squad, led by returning NWC champion Ian Batch (Sr., Eagle, ID/Capital HS), is tied for 14th with Carnegie Mellon in the NCAA Division III Poll. No other NWC men’s program is ranked in the Preseason Poll. Like Zerzan, Batch has recorded three Top 5 finishes at the NWC Championships. This year’s individual championship performance was preceded by a fifth place finish from Batch in 2004 and a fourth place finish in 2005. Batch was the fifth consecutive NWC individual champion to come from the Bearcats’ roster.

Up Next for the Bearcats:
Bearcats Set to Host Willamette Grass Course Meet
Willamette is set to open the 2007 season by hosting the Willamette Grass Course meet on Saturday, Sept. 15 at Bush’s Pasture Park in Salem, Ore. Last year, both of Willamette’s teams won NWC and West Region titles. The women’s team took 20th place at the NCAA Division III National Championships, while the men’s team placed 27th at nationals. This year’s NCAA Championships will be hosted by St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., on Nov. 17.